Prohousing Designation Program

To apply, please submit the application and an authorized formal resolution to ProhousingPolicies@hcd.ca.gov.

Increasing the availability of housing statewide is critical to bettering the quality of life of all Californians and to ending homelessness. The 2019-2020 Budget Act provided a spectrum of support, incentives, and accountability measures to meet California’s housing goals, and provided for the establishment of the Prohousing Designation Program.

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Sign up to receive a weekly listing of Prohousing Designation applications received by HCD by clicking this link HCD Email Signup and selecting the box labeled “Housing Planning and Policy.”

As of January 2, 2024, the permanent regulations for the Prohousing Designation Program are approved. All new Prohousing Designation Program applications will need to be developed in accordance with the permanent regulations, and HCD will begin accepting applications under those regulations on March 2, 2024. Updated application materials and technical assistance related to the permanent regulations will be posted soon.

HCD will work with Jurisdictions that submitted Prohousing Designation Program applications prior to January 2, 2024, to close out 60-day reviews in accordance with the applicable provisions of the prior emergency regulations. The prior emergency regulation provisions are memorialized in the permanent regulations in the sections ending in .1, which sunset on March 1, 2024. 

Regulation Conversion — Archive

Emergency Regulations — Archive

Local governments with Prohousing Designation are eligible to apply for the second round of the Prohousing Incentive Program (PIP Round 2), a $9.5 million state investment from the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund:

Subsequent Notice of Funding Availabilities (NOFAs) for PIP will be posted every August, with applications due every December, and Awards made every March.

Local governments that receive the Prohousing Designation can also receive priority processing or funding points when applying for several funding programs, including:

Other programs may be added to the list after HCD engages with stakeholders and partner agencies on adding Prohousing points to other housing and non-housing programs.

As of January 23, 2024, the following jurisdictions have earned a Prohousing Designation:

  • City of Citrus Heights
  • City of El Cerrito
  • City of Emeryville
  • City of Eureka
  • City of Fontana
  • City of Fresno
  • City of Healdsburg
  • City of Long Beach
  • City of Los Angeles
  • City of Moreno Valley
  • City of Mountain View
  • City of Needles
  • City of Oakland
  • City of Petaluma
  • County of Placer
  • City of Rancho Cordova
  • City of Redwood City
  • City of Riverside
  • City of Rohnert Park
  • City of Roseville
  • City of Sacramento
  • County of Sacramento
  • City of Salinas
  • City of San Diego
  • City of San Luis Obispo
  • City of Santa Cruz
  • City of Santa Monica
  • City of Santa Rosa
  • County of San Diego
  • County of Sonoma
  • City of South San Francisco
  • City of Stockton
  • County of Tulare
  • City of Ukiah
  • City of West Sacramento
  • Town of Windsor
  • County of Yuba

The Prohousing Designation Program application under the permanent regulations is now available. HCD will begin accepting applications on March 2, 2024.

Eligible applicants are limited to local governments (cities and counties).  HCD will review applications within 60 days and provide feedback.

June 30, 2021 – January 1, 2024

  • Release and operation of Prohousing Designation Program regulations and application under emergency regulations.

January 2, 2024

  • Prohousing Designation Program permanent regulation text is finalized. All new Prohousing Designation Program applications need to be developed in accordance with the permanent regulations.

January 23, 2024

  • To further reward and incentivize jurisdictions that receive Prohousing Designations, HCD posted the NOFA for the second round of the Prohousing Incentive Program.

January 23, 2024 – March 1, 2024

  • HCD will work with jurisdictions that submitted Prohousing Designation Program applications prior to January 2, 2024, to close out 60-day reviews in accordance with the applicable provisions of the prior emergency regulations. The prior emergency regulation provisions are memorialized in the permanent regulations in the sections ending in .1, such as 6600.1, which sunset on March 1, 2024.

March 2, 2024 ongoing

  • HCD begins accepting applications for the Prohousing Designation Program under the permanent regulations.
  • Application to receive a Prohousing Designation is an over-the-counter process.
    • Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
    • HCD has 60 days to review and provide feedback for revisions to application, as needed.
    • HCD determinations of Prohousing Designations are released as applications receive approvals.

March 15, 2024

June 2024 and beyond

  • Ongoing Annual Prohousing Designation Program Revisions
    • Incorporate ongoing stakeholder and applicant feedback
    • Implement any housing law changes
  • Annual Notice of Funding Availability for the Prohousing Incentive Program each August
  • Applications due each December
  • Awards made each March

For review status of applications received, please view the Prohousing Designation Application Tracker (XLS).

As part of its review of the Prohousing Designation application, HCD must consider any written comments received from any public agency, group, or person. If an organization or individual plans to provide comments to HCD on a jurisdiction's Prohousing Designation application, early contact with the assigned review staff member is encouraged to ensure that HCD is aware of this intent. To ensure that HCD has sufficient time to consider comments in the review of the Prohousing Designation application, written comments should be provided within the first 30 days of the review. Written comments can be provided directly to the assigned HCD analyst or emailed to ProhousingPolicies@hcd.ca.gov.